L'Occitane Factory Tours

High among the lavender hills between Avignon and Nice, the L’Occitane Factory is open for popular one-hour guided tours.

The site is located near the Provence hamlet of Manosque, and as you go through the factory, you’ll get to see production line rooms and learn how L’Occitane harvests and distills its organic ingredients from the area: lavender, olives, rosemary and almonds are all used in the creams and perfumes that make the brand famous worldwide.

On a tour of L’Occitane, you’ll learn about the history of the company. Once Olivier Baussan founded it in 1976, he started out making rosemary essential oil and selling it at local Provence markets. By 1981, Baussan had opened his first store in Provence, and today, there are over 2,000 L’Occitane stores in 90 countries around the world.

The factory also shows interactive exhibits and films that provide information about various L’Occitane projects, such as its sustainable development program in Burkina Faso, where it sources shea butter.

Practical Info

The L’Occitane factory store is located 30 miles (50 km) north of Aix-en-Provence. Tours available in both French and English run throughout the year, though they must be pre-booked. There is a 10 percent discount offered on anything purchased at the factory shop. L’Occitane is about 45 minutes’ drive on the auto route from the main Nice-Marseille road, and there is no public transport to the factory. Buses to the village of Manosque from Marseille are available, and from there, a taxi can be taken to the factory.

Saturate yourself in the aromatic fields of lavender in Provence on this guided tour from Aix-en-Provence. Choose between a morning, afternoon or full-day tour and then set out with your guide to wander around the violet-colored fields. Learn about the history of lavender production in the area, wander around a lavender farm and take some time to pose for pics in the middle of a lavender field.

Take off from Aix-en-Provence to visit Moustiers Ste-Marie and Manosque on this 9-hour tour. Along the way, visit remarkable sights, such as Verdon Gorge (Gorges du Verdon), Lake of Ste-Croix, and Notre Dame de Lorette. Plus make a stop to tour the high-end cosmetics company, L'Occitane’s factory.

It doesn’t get much dreamier than summertime in Provence, when blooms of fragrant lavender blanket the verdant hills. Soak up the beauty of southern France on this full-day trip from Avignon. Wind through blossoming flower fields, explore charming Aix-en-Provence and Valensole village, and visit the L’Occitane factory and museum. Learn about this distinguished brand and purchase some upscale cosmetics or essential oils to take home.

Experience the beauty of the south of France on this private day trip from Avignon. Immerse yourself in the best of southern French culture with stops in Provençale villages, the L'Occitane en Provence factory, with an opportunity to purchase products, and the famous lavender fields (in mid-summer). This tour is ideal for visitors who value privacy and want to get our of the city and see some of the charms of the French countryside.

See some of Provence’s most beautiful highlights on this private, full-day shore excursion. Meet your guide directly at the Marseille port, and set off in an air-conditioned minibus. Visit the L’Occitane en Provence factory at Manosque, see the lavender fields at Valensole (in season), venture to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie to admire the Verdon Gorge, and discover the Lake of Sainte-Croix.

From June to August each year, the fertile lavender fields of Provence cloak the countryside in a blanket of purple — drawing visitors from far and wide. This convenient 9-hour combination bus and walking tour from Avignon takes in pretty towns including Aix-en-Provence and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, showcasing the best of France’s lavender country. Stroll along rows of purple lavender, visit the l’Occitane museum and shop in Manosque, and enjoy personal attention from your guide on this small-group tour — limited to eight people.

Valensole is home to some of the most magnificent lavender fields in Provence and this seasonal tour is available only in June and July, when the flowers are in full bloom. Visit the atmospheric villages of Fontaine de Vaucluse and Saignon, take a tour of the famous L'Occitane perfume factory, and enjoy stunning views of the purple lavender fields.

In this full day tour, you will discover the North of the French Riviera in the Alpes de Haute-Provence and admire the stunning scenery of the area. Explore the charming village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, learn about the famous cosmetics brand L'Occitane en Provence, in Manosque, with the visit of the historical factory to discover the different production processes. Then, back on the road to Valensole and enjoy the fabulous view of the lavender fields (from June 10 to July 20). Once in Valensole, get some free time to discover this Provencal village, before heading up to Lake of Sainte-Croix where you can enjoy the view over the Verdon canyon.